Train order deliverer



Jan. 31; 1939. A. B. MCFALL TRAIN ORDER DELIVERER Filed Oct. 2, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet l Aaron .BMFLZZZ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1939. A. B.McFALL' TRAIN ORDER DELIVERER Filed Oct. 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hilllll AaranB HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENToFFlcs 2,145,519 Tam oanna DELIVERED Aaron B. McFall, Dixon, Ill.Application October 2, 1936, Serial No; 103,765

4 Claims.

My invention relates to the delivery of orders and messages to movingtrains and has among its objects and advantages the provision of animproved train order deliverer.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating my invention showing a message carriedthereby;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3? I Fig? is asectional view along the line 'l--'I of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of a message supportingarm; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the message holdingstring. Y

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of ahandle l0 including a head 12 which carries two angularly related armsl4 and 16 which support a string l8 holding the message order 20. Thisstring may have its ends tied together so as to form an endless loop,which loop is releasably retained by one of two spring clips 22 fastenedto the head l2. A slight concavity 24 is formed in the outer ends of thearms I4 and I6 for string holding purposes.

In operation, the device with the string It attached is supported by theoperator in such a position as to permit a person on a moving train topull the string ofi the device. Because of the angular relation betweenthe arms l4 and I6 and the endless nature of the string IS, the personon the train may easily remove the string by merely hooking the armtherethrough. The spring clips 22 have sufiicient tension to hold thestring It with the proper degree of tautness, but the tension is such asto permit the person on the train to remove the string easily with nodanger of pulling that person'off the train.

In delivering themessage, the device is held in a substantiallyhorizontal position with the shorter arm l6 underneath. In making onearm shorter than the other, the free end of the arms may be broughtcloser to the train with the handle It held at a slight angle to thehorizontal. This is an important feature in connection with largeengines having such height as to necessitate holding the device at anangleto the horizontal.

Handle I0 is made up of two sections 26 and 28. Section 26 is tubularfor slldably receiving the section 28 so as to permit adjustment of thehandle for length.' A set screw 30 fixedly connects the two sections invarious adjusted positions. I provide the outer end of the section 28with a flange'32 which abuts the end of the section 26 in the shortestadjustment of the handle. In many cases, the section 28 is of sufiicientlength for message delivering purposes, while in other cases, a longerhandle is required, which additional length is easily. attained byshifting the section 28. a

For packaging and handling purposes under crowded conditions, the armsl4 and I6 may be folded back upon the handle I0, as indicated, by Idotted lines in Fig.1. The two angular walls 34 on the head l2 are eachprovided with a groove 38 of the same cross sectional proportion as theinner ends of the arms and I6 which lie therein. These ends of the armsare releasably housed within the grooves, and may be moved to positionsexteriorally of the grooves and pivoted about axes at right angles tothe handle l0 tothe dotted line position of Fig. I. In the dotted lineposition, the arms l4 and I6 lie within recesses 38 in the flange 32,which prevents accidental displacement of the arms. I

In Fig. 6, I illustrate the inner ends of the arms I4 and I 6 as beingtapered at 40, which tapered ends are supported within sockets 42 formedby .the lips 44. I prefer to cast the head l2 of light weight materialsuch as aluminum. The head is hollow, as indicated at 46, while each ofthe walls 34 is provided with a threaded opening 48 for the reception ofa; sleeve liner 50 having threaded relation therewith andslidablysupporting a bolt 52. I provide the sleeve liner 50 with tubularextensions 54 which lend additional bracing and guiding support iorthebolts 52.

One slot 56 ls provided in each of the arms I 4 and 16 forlooselyreceiving the bolts 52. These slots are of sufficient length topermit the arms to be shifted longitudinally sufllcient distances toclear the lips 44 preparatory to pivoting the arms to the dotted linepositions of Fig. 1. Upon each bolt 52 I mount a compression spring 58,which spring has abutting relation with a washer 60 and the inner end ofthe sleeve liner- 50.

The tension of the springs 58 urge the arms I4 and I6 into the grooves36, but the arms may be pulled out of the grooves against the tension ofthe springs and pivoted about the bolts 52. Each sleeve liner 68includes a slot 64 for the reception of a screw driver to facilitateplacement or removal of the liner. Washers 66'may be positioned betweenthe heads 68 of the bolts 52 and the arms I4 and I6 to provideadditional bearing surface for the arms. The arms may be made of wood.

One of the walls I8 includes an opening I2 normally closed by a plate I4through the medium of screws 16 having threaded relation with thematerial of the head I2. In assembling the parts so far described, thesleeve liners 58 are placed in position, after which the bolts 52 areassembled with the arms I4 and I6 and pushed through the sleeve liners.The springs 58 are then placed on the bolts together with the washers68, after which the cotter pins 62 are attached to the bolts. Theopening I2 permits access to the interior of the head for assemblingpurposes.

In many cases it is necessary to deliver train orders under improperlyilluminated conditions. To facilitate delivery of messages under suchconditions I provide the head I2 with an electric bulb "I8 whichprojects a light beam axially of the handle I8 for illuminating themessage 28. Such illumination of the message enables the person on thetrain to determine the position of the delivery device, thus making iteasier to pick up the mesage. The threaded shank 88 of the bulb I8 isremovably retained within a threaded socket 82 terminating in areflector 84. I provide the head I2 with a hollow extesion 86 whichhouses the bulb and reflector assembly. Screws 88 hav ing threadedrelation with the extension 86 pass through openings in the flange 88comprising material of the reflector 84 for mounting purposes.

The central terminal 82 associated with the bulb I8 is arranged incontact with the pin 94 carried by a body of insulating material 96attached to the socket 82. To the flange 68 of the pin 94 I weld aconducting wire or rod I88 which has pressure relation with the contactI82 associated with the battery I84. I mount the battery I84 within anopening I86 in the head I2, which opening communicates with a largerbore I88 threaded at II8 for threaded connection with the threaded endII2 of the section 26. New batteries may be substituted by merelyunscrewing the section 26 from the head I2. A resilient finger I I4 isrotatably mounted on a screw I I6 having threaded relation with the headI2. This finger maybe rotated about the screw H6 to'a position clear ofthe battery for placement and removal purposes, but when pivoted to aposition underneath the battery, the latter will be supported in aposition illustrated in Fig. 6.

A switch H8 is arranged in operative relation with a second batterycontact I28 for energizing the bulb I8. In Fig. 8, the switch H8includes a shaft I22 rotatably mounted within a liner I24 anchored ina'threaded opening in one of the walls 18. I cut away the switch H8 atI26 so that in one position of adjustment, the switch will be arrangedin spaced relation with the contact I28, but in the other position ofadjustment, the switch will be arranged in pressure relation with thecontact for closing the circuit. I provide the shaft I22 with a knurledknob I28 for turning purposes.

I enclose the conductor I88 within an insulated shell I38 which fitssnugly within an opening in a cross member I32 carried by the walls I8.Because of the shell I38, the conductor I88 is insulated from the headbut is supported thereby.

The reflector 84 possesses conducting properties and is arranged inelectrical conducting relation with the head I2. Switch I26 is alsoarranged in electrical conducting relation with the head I2. Thus, thecircuit through the bulb I8 is closed when the switch H8 is moved intocontact with the battery contact I28. I prefer to provide the switch I26with flat sides I34 which have pressure relation with the contact I 28so that the position of the switch may be determined by a sense oftouch.

In Fig. 9, I illustrate a slightly different form of arm correspondingto the arms I4 and I6 in which the wood or-rattan rod I36 is securedwithin a socket I 38 terminating in a reach I 48 shaped to lie withinone of the grooves 36 in the same way as the arms I4 and I6. Reach I48is provided with a slot I42 and is tapered at I44 in the same manner asthe arms I4 and I6. A pin or screw I46 may be used for securing the rodI36 within the socket.

In Figs. 6 and 10, I illustrate the manner in which the order 28 may beconnected with the string I8. In Fig. 6, the message 28 is folded anumber of times and is folded diagonally at I 48. The string I8 isdoubled back upon itself and the doubled part folded back upon itself inthe form of a loop to provide a loop I58 through which the order isinserted. Because of the folded condition of the order, the loop I58 maybe drawn tightly thereabout, and the order will withstand pulling forcestransmitted to the string during and after connection with the arms I4and I6 and the clip 22.

In Fig. 10, each end of the string is knotted about the other end, as atI52, to provide an Englishmans tie. The order is inserted at I54. KnotsI52 may be drawn closer together by pulling on the reaches I56. As theknots are drawn closer together, the message will be pressed between theknots and the reaches I58. The latter reaches transmit sufficientpressure to the folded order to balance collapsing forces transmittedthereto by the knots I52. The tie illustrated in Fig. 10 resistscollapsing of the order to a degree which permits the string to beconnected with the deliverer under the necessary degree of tautness. Theorder or message may be released from the tie by merely pulling the endsI 54 simultaneously in opposite directions.

With the clips 22 attached to the head I2 on opposite sides thereof, thestring I8 may be so connected with the deliverer and one of the clips asto permit the direction of pull exerted on the string I 8 to be awayfrom the deliverer regardless of the direction of travel of the train.The arms I4 and I6 embody sufficient flexibility to permit the string tobe pulled easily out of the concavities 24. I have arranged theresilient mounting for the arms I4 and I6 within the head I2 so as toprovide a compact arrangement of the parts and one in which the headaffords protection for the mounting. At the same time, the resilientmounting is housed within the head in such a manner as to eliminateprojections beyond the head on which the string I8 might catch.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain myinvention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions oi service.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a. telescopic handleprovided with a head having grooves, string supporting arms having theirinner ends lying within said grooves, said grooves terminating insockets for the reception of the inner ends of the arms, and resilientmeans urging the arms into the grooves.

2. A device of the type described comprising a handle having a headprovided with grooves, string supporting arms having their inner endslying within said grooves and provided with slots,

said grooves terminating in sockets for support-' ing the inner ends ofthe arms, bolts connected with the head and extending through saidslots, and springs mounted on said bolts for urging the arms into saidgrooves, said slots being of such length to permit thvarms to be movedin the clear of said sockets, "said springs permitting the arms to bemoved in the clear of said grooves and rotated on the bolts.

3, A device of the type described comprising a handle, a pairof stringsupporting arms, pivot means for connecting the inner ends 01' thestring supporting arms with one end oi the handle, means cooperabie onthe inner ends of saidstring supporting arms-and. the said one end ofthe handle for restraining the arms from accidental pivotal movement,resilient mounting for said pivot. means so constructed and arranged asto permit the pivotediends of the string supporting arms to be moved outof restraining relation with said second named means, to permit the armsto be folded back upon the handle.

4. A device of the type described comprising a handle including a hollowhead, a pair of string supporting arms, means on said head for holdingthe string supporting arms in divergent relation, pivots for pivotallyconnecting the arms with said head, resilient means located inside thehollow head and cooperable on said pivots for yieldably holding the armsinrconnected relation with said first named means, said pivots beingmovable longitudinally'of their axes, to bring the arms in the clear ofsaid firstnamed means, to permit the arms to be folded back upon thehandle.

AARON -B., McFALL.

